6 Steps to Better Posture While We’re All Slouching on the Couch

Good posture is important for many reasons. When you slouch, you put a lot of stress on your spine. In turn, the muscles, joints, and bones that are required to hold your backbone in the right position will be affected. Bad posture won’t only damage your back, but it will also squash your organs. This will make it harder for your intestines and lungs to work correctly. Over time, you will start to experience issues when digesting food and inhaling air. Bad posture can change the way you look as well as harm your health. As you can see, it is important to have a good posture and today, we will be taking a look at six steps on how to improve your posture. 

Sleep the Right Way

A firm mattress will help to support the natural shape of your spine by holding it in place while you sleep. Fortunately, there are several good options for you to consider. If you sleep on your side, then you should not hug your knees. Instead, bend them slightly. Whether you sleep on your back or your side, you should have the right size and number of pillows to keep your head in line with your spine. 

Stand Up Straight

Straightening up is a great way to prevent problems with your posture. Standing up tall will make you look and feel better, and it can even make you look slimmer. To do so, you need to pretend you are standing with your back against the wall like you would to measure your height. Stand with your knees straight, shoulders back and tuck in your tummy. Keep your hips in and straighten your neck upwards.

Don’t Slump at Work

Sitting in a slouched position at your work desk may feel comfortable, but this is not good for your posture. Instead, you should be sitting all the way back in your chair. To help protect the natural curvature of the spine, you can place a rolled-up towel or a pillow behind your mid-back. Your knees should be bent at a right angle and should be in line with your hips, with your feet flat on the floor.

Stretch Your Neck

Many of us are obsessed with our smartphones. When we stare at our smartphones all day long, it is common for many of us to experience ‘text neck.’ Tilting your neck to read a text message puts a lot of strain on your spine. Over the course of the day, this pressure adds up. To avoid this unnecessary strain, take a break to stretch your neck out and move the phone or your eyes instead of your neck. 

Stick to Wearing Flats

Wearing flat shoes that provide a high-level of support to the shape of your feet can do wonders for your posture. Stilettos and pumps may be in fashion, but unfortunately, they will push the base of your spine frontward, which will cause your back to over-arch, affecting how your backbone lines up. It will also put pressure on your nerves, which will lead to back pain, so save the heels for a night out.

Work Your Abs

Toning your abs through exercise is a great way to provide that extra support to your spine. Losing weight will also reduce the amount of stress those added pounds put on your back. Having a workout plan that has been designed well will ensure your body and your spine remains strong and in good shape. Always make the effort to exercise safely and consider non-impact exercise, such as tai chi.

Having good posture will better your health as well as the way you look. It usually takes time to adjust and improve, but the results will definitely be worth it and will benefit you in the long-term. 

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